More than £8 million in grant support has been paid out to businesses in Bath and North East Somerset that have been forced to close in order to comply with Covid-19 restrictions.

Bath & North East Somerset Council opened up its online form for businesses to apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant Addendum last Friday (January 22).

Since then it has paid the grant to 1,089 local businesses. Funds will be in their bank accounts by Monday February 1. Work is under way on a further 550 applications.

Businesses that are eligible but have not yet applied can do so following this link the B&NES site

Businesses can use the same application process and will be able to claim for the November lockdown as well.

Hundreds of local businesses were forced to close as a result of the current national lockdown and Bath & North East Somerset Council emailed all those that previously received a Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum, to let them know them know they could apply for more financial support.

Councillor Richard Samuel, deputy leader and cabinet member for Resources, said: "We know the grant is a lifeline for businesses hit by the third lockdown and we have worked as quickly as possible to process these payments. I am very pleased that more than £8million has already been distributed. The window is still open for applications and if you need help with the forms please contact our Invest in Bath team."

Businesses should only make a new application if they have not previously applied for the grant. New applications can be made online at: the application site

The LRSG (Closed) Addendum payment is designed to support businesses which were open as usual and providing services to customers in person from their premises, but then required to close as a result of the lockdown imposed on 5 January.

The grant is for businesses in the following sectors that pay business rates on their premises:

Non-essential retail

Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities

Entertainment venues

Personal care services

Hospitality venues, such as restaurants, bars and pubs

Hotels, hostels and B&Bs

Qualifying businesses will receive an LRSG(C)A payment together with a Closed Business Lockdown Payment for each property liable for business rates from the period 5 January 2021 to 15 February 2021:

Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will receive £2,001 LRSG(C)A and £4,000 Closed Business Lockdown Payment

Properties with a rateable value of between £15,001 and £50,999 will receive £3,000 LRSG(C)A and £6,000 Closed Business Lockdown Payment

Properties will a rateable value of £51,000 or over will receive £4,500 LRSG(C)A and £9,000 Closed Business Lockdown Payment

Discretionary grants are also available for businesses that are open but have been severely impacted by the restrictions. Businesses that are mandated to close but are not registered for Business Rates may also be eligible.

One of the following must also apply:

-You are not a business rate payer of the premises you trade from, or occupy, and are required to close (this includes businesses registered for Council Tax);

-Your business is not required to close and has closed due to a significant impact on trading (this applies to both business registered for business rates and those not registered) ;

-Your business is continuing to operate, but with significantly reduced demand due to social distancing rules (this applies to both business registered for business rates and those not registered).

-The amount of discretionary grant awarded will depend on the size of the workforce or the rateable value of the premises.

For more information on the LRSG(C)A grants and eligibility criteria, visit the Government webpage the government's coronavirus site